Another successful tradeswomen’s taster session at the BeChange Centre in Canterbury

Construction Youth Trust, in partnership with Mears and CITB, hosted a building maintenance and repairs maintenance session for 9 local women.

Last week we welcomed nine women to a taster session at the BeChange Centre in Aylesham, Canterbury. The women arrived from all over Canterbury including Dover, Folkestone and Aylesham village itself.

The series of workshops around the UK aims to provide a practical and inspiring learning experience for women who wish to ‘have a go’ at a trade before deciding on whether to pursue a career in building maintenance.

The taster session consisted of practical training work in trade skills including joinery, tiling and painting and decorating led by a qualified trades trainer. The women were also informed of career opportunities in the Repairs & Maintenance sector and the progression and support systems open to them.

The group was thoroughly engaged and keen to hear about pathways into the building maintenance industry. Spilt into two teams which then rotated, all of the women participated in a project to use carpentry hand tools to build a bench, to prepare a background, fix and grout wall tiles and to apply emulsion paint with a brush, roller cage and roller sleeve. This exercise gave the group a chance to work as a team to complete a practical activity to a deadline. The bench was presented to Angela Doggett from the BeChange Centre for use in their beautiful garden.

All in all, the day was a huge success with all nine participants stating that they would now consider a career working in the building repairs and maintenance sector. Having met all the women on the day, Kath Moore from Women into Construction is already working hard to source progression routes for the women.

“I can’t believe I tiled! I want to do any courses on learning how to do more for myself”

If you are interested in finding out more about careers in the trades, we are running the Budding Builders course on a regular basis and welcome young people who are currently looking to gain a CSCS card, and find employment or training.